United Way of Greater Chattanooga is excited to partner with the Chattanooga Times Free Press for the 2017 Neediest Cases Fund for its fifth year. The campaign kicked off Thanksgiving Day with stories of hope and healing that contributions to the fund make possible.

United Way began partnering with the Chattanooga Times Free Press in 2013 to allocate money from their Neediest Cases Fund, and it continued to do so since, helping almost 1,000 families and individuals over the past four years. By doing this, the funds distributed to those in need are leveraged with available services in order to both broaden the financial support provided by money raised by the Neediest Cases Fund campaign and broaden the social support that is provided through all of United Way’s 2-1-1 partner agencies.

NEED HELP?United Way of Greater Chattanooga has worked with partner agencies in the area this past year to help people with emergency needs as well as provide services, when possible, to help them become self-sufficient and stable. Call 423-752-0353 if you or someone you know could benefit from the Neediest Cases Fund.

THE NEEDIEST CASES FUNDThe Chattanooga Times Free Press Neediest Cases Fund enters its 104th year helping those in need with donations from readers who generously give to a unique resource available year round. Each year between Thanksgiving and the end of the year, the Chattanooga Times Free Press asks readers to donate to the Neediest Cases Fund. Hundreds of individual donors, many of whom have made their Neediest Cases Fund contributions an annual tradition, donate thousands of dollars that stay in this area to help those most in need. Contributions, which are acknowledged in the newspaper, will be accepted through December 31, 2017.

This year for #GivingTuesday, United Way of Greater Chattanooga is asking our community to #JoinTheFight for Education.

We have a wonderful new partnership with Erlanger and Parkridge Hospitals where every baby born in their care will be automatically enrolled in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. This means that every baby will receive a free book each month until they are 5 years old.